Blackmores Sydney Marathon

We are under strict directions from NSW Police and the RMS to ensure the total time set for each event is adhered to in order to reopen roads for public use. What this means is that we have to implement a series of cut-off points and redirections to ensure that the slowest runners don’t impede on our road re-opening schedule.

Will this impact me?

This year we will be continuing the same system of cut-off and redirection points along the course in order to control the event cut-off times. If a participant fails to reach the designated point by the time indicated they will be given the option of pulling out or continuing by being redirected on a section of the course. Anyone who takes the ‘redirection’ option will have their number marked and will not be regarded as an official finisher.

Start window

Each event is allocated a start window, which is a specific period of time when runners must cross the start line within. For the Marathon, the Start Window is 10 minutes. No one will be permitted to cross the start line after 7:30am (unless for some reason the organisers delay the start). Any athlete whose timing chip is activated after the start window and / or doesn’t activate their timing chip at the start line will be disqualified.

Tail control & tail pick-up

We will have a tail vehicle controlling the event cut-off time and event officials will also be located at each of the designated cut-off and redirection points noted below. Participants must follow the directions of event staff at all times and failure to do so will mean immediate disqualification and may prevent participants being allowed entry in future years.

Participants must also note that the tail vehicle will be issuing late timing warnings to runners throughout the course to help you manage your pace and meet cut-off times. Any runner who is behind the official cut-off time at the cut-off point(s) may be asked to leave the course or take a redirection.

Blackmores Sydney Marathon Cut-Off & Redirection Points

Distance (approx)

Race Time Cut-Off from Start Line (Gun Time)

Time of Day

Official cut-off time - 6hrs - participants to maintain 8min 32sec per km or better

1

College St and Art Gallery Rd (redirection point)Runners redirected along College St (missing The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Loop)

Flinders St past 29km mark prior to South Dowling Street (cut-off point)Runners to be taken off the course and directed to the Finish Line

29.0km

4hr:17min

11.37am

6

Phillip Street at Half Marathon Drink Station 3 (cut-off point)Runners to be taken off the course and directed to the Finish Line

31.1km

4hr:35min

11.55am

7

Cadman's Cottage, Overseas Passenger Terminal (redirection point) at Drink Station 12Runners to be redirected to the Finish Line

32.6km

4hr:48min

12.08pm

8

King St & Sussex St (redirection point)Runners redirected to return north along Sussex St to Finish Line (missing Pyrmont)

35.3km

5hr:11min

12.31pm

9

Pyrmont St at Drink Station 14 (cut-off point)Runners may be redirected along Pyrmont Bridge Rd, onto Pyrmont Bridge and over pedestrian walkways to re-join with the course at Sussex St and to continue to the finish on pathways only.

37.3km

5hr:28min

12.48pm

10

King St & Sussex St (redirection point) Runners are redirected onto the western pathway along Sussex St & Hickson Rd, and from this point and time onwards, all runners/walkers must complete the course on pedestrian pathways only.